SPOILER WARNING!
Initial Thoughts
What is an existential crisis if you're already dead? In The Deadman #4, Boston Brand tries to get answers from the Big Guy himself. Writer W. Maxwell Prince continues to work through his own questions about faith, looking inward as he tries to explain what life is about and what might be waiting for us in the afterlife. The themes of The Deadman #2 operate on a much broader scale; as we delve deeper into the psyche of the custodian of souls, we start seeing some of the questions we ask ourselves as mortal beings. Trying to find out true purpose in life, or in Brand’s case, the afterlife, isn't dictated by someone or something--like a job. It's determined by how well we push forward when faced with adversity.
I love comic books.
I thoroughly enjoyed this issue, and after the chaotic last issue, The Deadman #4 was the yin to its yang. The best part of this book is that it poses critical, nuanced questions to readers while still telling a basic story of angels and demons, good and bad, and all the gray area in between. This issue did the most with making us think about our own existence, while still continuing to push the story of the soul-eaters and the blood-eating Nazi. And next issue, we get Swamp Thing? Let's go!
A Comic That Make You Think
Humor mixed with a little faith questioning, sprinkled with some existentialism, was at the root of The Deadman #4. By far, it has been the most thought-provoking issue, as it makes you question your own relationship with a higher power, or at least your purpose in life. So, while it's a heavy topic, what makes it so fantastic is that it fits perfectly within the narrative, and the pacing never drags. On the contrary, Brand’s adventure to Heaven is fast-paced, and writer W. Maxwell Prince does a fantastic job of manipulating time in telling this story. Sitting in the waiting room, what could have been an eternity flew by in just a few panels.
This gives us time to breathe and digest what is going on, since this sort of topic can be hard to grasp at times. This side mission in Deadman’s adventure might be the most important, and I think it will be the foundation of the story as we move forward. It'll be interesting to see whether Boston continues this new outlook in his eternal job, or whether meeting Mr. M eventually brings him back down. For now, Boston Brand is in a good place, but I expect that will change shortly.
Mr. M is Officially Here
Boston Brand’s existential crisis and trip to meet God in Heaven may be the issue’s most important angle and the story’s core. Still, I think the backstory we got for our demon friend was better, at least for now. We get a better look at Mr. M and what makes him tick. We get a clearer picture of his motivation, and the readers find out he's working for someone else! Could it be Lucifer who we met in the last issue? That is yet to be determined, but the possibilities are intriguing, and it's exciting to see where this ends up.
Ultimately, I think Mr. M and Brand will cross paths here sooner rather than later. Brand is on a natural high right now after being reinvigorated by his trip to Heaven; however, that won't last forever. Also, keep an eye on this as we continue the story: what is up with Bobby after his interaction with Zatara? I like these little breadcrumbs within the bigger picture. All these little strings will be pulled together toward the end, making us rush to reread this issue to make sure we remember it all. That is good, layered storytelling, and that is what has made this title one of the best on the market right now.
The Art is Heavenly
Martin Morazzo's art remains unnerving in the best ways. His style, while more on the “spooky” side of things, still worked well in his interpretation of Hell. His look at Heaven offers a good contrast to Morazzo’s depiction of Hell, and some of that contrast comes from Chris O’Holloran’s use of color, especially the lighter tones when we visit Heaven. Moving back and forth between Heaven and Hell so seamlessly with the same creative team was a stroke of genius. Both places were aesthetically different, yet in perfect dichotomy, and it works well to see them back-to-back.
We have only seen a few glimpses of it, Mr. M, but Morazzo’s ability to draw brutality jumps right off the page. His design of a brutal Nazi vampire in a bathrope is a creative swing for the fences that makes contact. Another hit is Morazzo’s version of Swamp Thing, which I found remarkable and groundbreaking, even if that might be hyperbole to some. Having Swamp Thing made out of electrical wiring is super interesting. As a long-time fan of Swamp Thing, I am super interested to see how this version of the monster works within this story in his new getup.
Final Verdict
The Deadman #4 is the most thought-provoking issue in the series so far, but it never feels preachy or condescending. It feels like a conversation between the reader and writer W. Maxwell Prince, sharing his personal feelings about belonging in this world. What makes it feel so personal is that it deals with themes usually existential and above our pay grade. The effort to make us think blends perfectly with the darker elements that keep layering the story. Between Bobby finding out there might be a demon and us learning more about Mr. M, there is something for everyone in Deadman #4.